Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1887-08-09
qHELANGSTON TRIAL.
,xv,NrH DAYS PROCEEDINGS IL An
IxIERAsTINa CASE.
gow tie Jury Spent the sabbath-nore
Testimony for the Prosecution
Sudden Death.
,cor-osDonaopco Of tn. Richmond Dispatch.l


Today was the seventh day of the
trial of Frank Nj. Langston, charged
with the murder OF John Ia. Kuilln.
The first day was spent in getting a
iury. and five Of the remaining days
were consumed in hearing medical and
expert testimony. After a Sabbath
DAYS rest Judge, jurors, lawyers, wit
II, sses, and prisoner appeared III court
this morning looking refreshed, and
the case was opened with new vigor.
Deputy-Sherlff Beasley had charge
of the Jury yesterday, and in the
morning. at their request, escorted
them to the colored Presbyterian
church for worship, and in the after
noon took them ont to West-End Park
TO witness q large negro baptizing
there. They also spent good portion
of the day in exercise. The jury IS
composed of six white and six colored
men.
The stress laid upon the medical
testimony by the defence may not APP
pear in full until the argument Is COM
menced, but the prosecution have, from
every doctor placed on the stand, OBJ
tanned answers to direct questions that
the wounds inflicted by Langston's bull
let were fatal and caused Ruliin's
death.
DIR. ]. ". Bryant was placed on the
stand Saturday afternoon, and when
the court opened this morning he was
sill under cross-eIamination, which
covered in its progress much of the
ground traversed by the preceding wit
nesses. in answer to questions pro
pounded by the prosecution, he ex-
pressed the opinion that Rullin's
wounds were fatal and would have re-
suited in death, even without the opera
ton Of laparotomy performed upon
him. In response to questions asked
by the defence he said that the opera
ton as performed was not above criti-
cism, and thought that experience, skill,
and completeness Of arrangements were
lacking. The Doctor gavea very inter
esting statement OF the arrangements
| necessary for the successful perform
ance Of laparotomy.
Or. Bryant's testimony was Goa
cludod this afternoon, when George
Fayerman and Spencer Green, two
prominent colored men, were pat on
the stand by the prosecution. Their
evidence, in brief, was that on the 9Th
of April they were in the store OF
Thomas Scott, on Halifax street, few
doors above the store kept by the pri'
soner (Langston) that while there
Rufiin came IN and remained for few
moments that he took up some cards
that were on the mantelplece and was
told TO put them down +; that he went
out Oh the street and very quickly az
forwards a pistol-shot was heard that
they went to the door and there saw
kuiiin, who told them he had been shot
w Langston, ard exhibited a bloody
slain upon his garments, where the bal
| had penetrated. Langston had gone
away WHOM they got to tue door and
they did not STE him.
IT this point the court took recess
| for dinner.
it's understood that no more medical
testimony viii he introduced by the
prosecution, and the probability is thai
the trial will be concluded by the latter
pant of this week, ii not earlier. In
portant instructions will be asked fol
hy both prosecution and defence, and
the argument upon them may delay tho
| trial for some time.
COMMONWEALTH TESTIMONY CLOSED
The testimony for the prosecution IL
the Langston tiial concluded tonight
and so far as the State is concerned
the case rests. The distance from
Lapgston's store to where Rullin wa:
overtaken and shot was shown 10y
measurement to be ninety feet.
Chief-of-Police Newcomb testified
that Lan6ston came to the station
house and surrendered himself thai
lie there gave up the pistol with which
lie said he had Shot Rutl;n, and that Il
he Lao failed to Int it WAS not because
| lie had not tried to DO so.
FOR TIE Defence.
The first witness for the defence was
Or. David i. May, who described
laparotomy as an exceedingly delicate
and dangerous operation, about which
great diversity Of opinion exists anc
OF which lc is not in favor. Hi
judgment is that for gunshCt wounds
it has not been performed but fifty
seven times, with about so per cent. o
deaths. The court adjourned to-nigh
with Or. May still on the stand. The
courtroom was crowded, with many
physicians present as interested lis
teLers.
MISCELLANEOUS NOTES.
A child of Rev. Mr.. Phelps, thc
Episcopal minister in Greensvill'
county, died suddenly several night
ago from the effects OF a severe spasm
The rain on Saturday afternoon wa
very heavy one throughout this sec
ton and the electric display here wa
very brilliant. A portion Of Fifth
Ward was flooded by the rain. Since
the storm the temperature has cooled
great deal.
1t i, reported pretty freely upon tn
streets here that Colonel Joseph Z
Minetree, purchasing agent OF til.
Richmond and Danville railroad, will
lie a candidate for the Office OF tn
clerk of the courts i'll this city at th'
next spring election.
The electric-light wires communl